On November 22, 1963, the President was aboard Air Force One for a brief flight from Fort Worth to Dallas, Texas. Dallas was the third stop of a two-day, five-city tour of Texas. While Kennedy had not yet announced his candidacy for reelection in the 1964 Presidential election, an announcement was expected.
Approaching Dallas’s Love Field
Canon R6 Mark II, EF 40mm, f/9, 1/200th of a second
Approaching Love Field
Canon R6 Mark II, EF 40mm, f/9, 1/200th of a second
Despite capturing the American public’s imagination with comparisons to King Arthur’s Camelot, Kennedy’s reelection was not assured. Conservative Southern Democrats were upset by Kennedy’s brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy's, moves toward pushing civil rights for Black Americans still living under the rule of Jim Crow racism. Kennedy and his political advisors knew Florida and Texas, with their electoral votes, would be critical for a successful reelection campaign in 1964.
After speeches to crowds at the Fort Worth Texas Hotel and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Kennedy landed at Love Field for a speech at Dallas’s Trade Mart. The presidential motorcade left with First Lady Jacqueline, Texas Governor John Connally, and his wife accompanying the President. Crowds of onlookers lined the presidential motorcade route, hoping to catch a glimpse of the President and First Lady riding in an open convertible.
Love Field’s terminal viewed from a taxing aircraft. Air Force One may have had a similar view after landing.
Canon R6 Mark II, EF 40mm, f/9, 1/250th of a second
Approximately how Air Force One may have viewed Love Field’s terminal.
Canon R6 Mark II, EF 40mm, f/9, 1/320th of a second
At 12:30 PM, the motorcade turned off Houston Street and moved to Elm Street at Dealey Plaza. As the motorcade passed the Texas School Book Depository, shots rang out. The first shot hit an oak tree. A second shot hit the President in the neck, and a bullet struck Governor Connally in the back. The third shot struck President Kennedy in the head, mortally wounding him. The motorcade sped off to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where the President was declared dead at 1:00 PM.
Lee Harvey Oswald’s view of Houston Street as the Presidential Motorcade approached the. Texas School Book Depository.
Canon R6 Mark II, EF 40mm, f/2.8, 1/800th of a second
Lee Harvey Oswald's view of Elm Street as the Presidential Motorcade moved past the Texas School Book Depository.
Canon R6 Mark II, EF 40mm, f/2.8, 1/320th of a second
Onlookers’ vantage point of where President Kennedy’s limousine was when the first bullet struck him and Governor Connally. The X marks the sport of the first shot to strike the president.
Canon R6 Mark II, EF 40mm, f/9, 1/320th of a second
The spot were the first bullet struck President Kennedy and Governor Connally. The Texas School Book Depository is in the background.
Canon R6 Mark II, EF 40mm, f/9, 1/160th of a second
Onlooker’s view of the spot where the President’s limosuine was when the second bullet struck President Kennedy. The grassy knoll is in the background.
Canon R6 Mark II, EF 40mm, f/2.8, 1/4000th of a second
The spot where the second bullet struck President Kennedy. The Texas School Book Depository is in the background.
Canon R6 Mark II EF 40mm, f/9, 1/250th of a second
Witnesses claimed to have seen a rifle pointing out of a corner window on the 6th floor of the School Book Depository. Abraham Zapruder captured the assassination with his home movie camera. Zapruder’s film is probably the most dissected and studied film in history. Other witnesses claimed to have seen smoke and a man running from the grassy knoll at Dealey Plaza, starting many conspiracy theories that arose in the wake of President Kennedy’s assassination.
A view of the old Texas School Book Depository from Elm Street. Lee Harvey Oswald's sniper hide is the window on the building’s far right side just above the tree. A box can be seen where Oswald propped the rifle he used for the assassination.
Canon R6 Mark II EF 40mm, f/9, 1/250th of a second
Another view of the former Texas School Book Depository from Dealey Plaza . Oswald’s sniper position is the window on the far right, second from top.
Canon R6 Mark II EF 40mm, f/9, 1/320th of a second
Abraham Zapruder’s vantage point where he filmed President Kennedy’s assassination.
Canon R6 Mark II EF 40mm, f/9, 1/250th of a second
An initial search of the Texas School Book Depository yielded an Italian-made Mannlicher-Carcano rifle with a telescopic sight. The investigation led to a recent hire at the School Book Depository, Lee Harvey Oswald, as the prime suspect of the shooting. Oswald claimed he was innocent and was set up as a “patsy.” Oswald never stood trial because Dallas Night Club owner Jack Ruby assassinated him on November 24, 1963. The Warren Commission, created by newly inaugurated President Lyndon Johnson, determined Oswald was the lone shooter of President Kennedy.
Lee Harvey Oswald's snisper position on the 6th floor of the ole Texas School Book Depository. This location is now a museum dedicated to President Kennedy’s assassination.
Canon R6 Mark II EF 40mm, f/2.8, 1/250th of a second